Magazine and feed means for stapling implements



Aug. 22, 195o w E. WEMBER MAGAZINE ANE FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING IMPLEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 24, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER E. WEMBER ATTOR YS Aug. 22, 1950 w. E. wEMBER MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS EoR sTAPLING IMPLEMENTS original Filed March 24, l194:8

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WALTER E. WEMBER 1/iw? ATToRN Ys lill Illu n l Il rlrlfillllllul MAGAZINE `AND FEED MEANS EoR sTAPLmG IMPLEMENTs original Filed March 24, 1948 Aug..` 22, 1950 w. E.' wEMBER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mnvanoli.- WALTER E. wEMBER' TORNEI@ Patented Aug. 22, 1950 MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING EMPLEMENTS Walter E. Wember, Waukegan, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to National Autostitch ICorporation, a corporation of Illinois Original application March 24, 1948, Serial No. 16,809. Divided and this application February 2, 1950, `Serial No. 141,951

3 lClailns. (iCl. 1-49) This invention relates to stapling devices or tools and particularly to stapling tools of the hammer type.

The subject matter herein claimed was rst disclosed in my application led March 24, 1948,

Serial No. 16,809, now U. S. Letters Patent No.

2,501,703, granted on March 28, 1950, and of which this application is a division.

Hammer type stapling devices as heretofore manufactured have been the subject of many they were effective to drive staples into the work. These objections have centered in a large measure about the difficulty and cost of manufacture and the large number of parts that were needed in such manufacture. fore, an important object of this invention to simplify thejmanufacture of hammer type stapling devices, and an object related to the foregoing is to enable such stapling devices to be constructed in such a way as to involve but a very few part-s that must be made and tted together at relatively close tolerances.

Other and related objects are to enable such hammer type stapling devices to be so -constructed as to avoid the necessity for accurate pivotal connection of the two major elements of the device;` to simplify the matching of the staple driving ram with the guiding element therefor; to enable the ram and its guide to be mounted ...1.9 Objections despite the convenience with which .1.5 It is, thereon a single element of the device; and to enable the staple driving action to be attained without marring of the surface in which the staple is driven.

In the use of stapling devices of the aforesaid character, the convenience of 'loading of the staples is of course an important factor, and it is therefore another important object of this invention to simplify and facilitate the staple loading operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now :consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of theinvention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used 'and structural changes may be made as desired by` those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention 'and the purview of the appended claims.

2 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a stapling vdevice embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View showing the parts upon completion of a staple driving operation;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front or left hand end elevational view;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section similar to Fig. 2, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing an enlarged portion of the staple driving ram and the associated mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 7 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a plan section taken along the line -Iil of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a plan section taken along the line |l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a plan section taken along the line |2-I2 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are fragmental vertical sectional views showing portions of the staple loading and advancing mechanism in different positions;

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are vertical sectional views taken respectively along the lines Iii-JS, I'l-I and I8-I8 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan section taken along the line I9l9 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 201s a vertical section taken along the line 26-26 of Fig. 14. I

For purposes of ldisclosure the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a hammer type stapling device or tool 36 which comprises a pair of elongated channel members 32 and Se made from sheet metal stampings and arranged with the lower channel 32 disposed in a partially housed relation within the upper channel 34, and these channels 32 and 34 are pivoted together at their right hand or rear ends by pivot screws 35 so that in a staple driving operation the forward or left hand end of the upper channel 34 may move downwardly with respect to the channel 32 from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3. The right hand or rear portion of the upper channel 3-4 constitutes the handle portion of the device or tool, and while graspingthis handle the tool is swung downwardly through a hammer-like driving stroke so that the lower left hand face of the lower channel 32 is brought into Contact with the surface of the work, such as a pair of super-posed work pieces W-I andW- Tlwhich are to, be connected tegether by a staple S. The staples S as herein shown are of the type wherein the upper cross bar has two legs of equal length extendeddownf. wardly therefrom, but it will be understoqd that conventional staples having legs of unequal length may be employed where this. is desirable;

The lower channel member 3?; is utilized under the present invention to carry the staple holding and feeding means F and the staple iriving ram mechanism R, such ram mechanism being disposed on channel 32 adjacent to the left hand or forward end as shown in Figs. 1 to Qi theV drawings. The other or upper channel member 311 serves primarily as a housing member and as a handle, Since the right hand' or rear end of this upper channel 34 is grasped by the* user when the tool is to be utilized to drive a staple inte 'the' work.

The upper channel 3d is for-ined so` as'to. be Qi' Substantially uniform. Cross,- Section. thrquahout lriiost o' its" length, but atitsforward'or left hand end asA shown in Figs. 1 to 3v of the drawings, the channel 34 has 'an upward extension 34E whereby operative clearance is provided withinv the channel for elements of the ram mechanism, R (Fig. 3), as will hereinafterb'e described. The upper channel all' has a top wall 34T, a forward end Vwall Se? and a rear end wall sta, and at the apposite edges of' the top wail 34T,i slide walls 3dS are extended dcwnwardly and are Connected to the end walls SflF and 3BR. Near the rear wall 34B, a bottoni wall 3dB is provided 'for a limited distance between the lower edges of the Side walls 3dS, and Yin the plane of the bottom wall 321B, each of` the side wallsl 34S has an inwardly extended guide frange which, as will be evident in Fig. 4 of the drawings, extends in a forwarder left hand direction throughout a substantial portion ofthe length f the channel member 34." However, at a peint spaced a short distance from the left @and 0I' forward end of the member 3d, the fi-langes 3'4G: are terminated as at 3d() so as to afford a clearance opening in this area that. is of the full width of the channel and this clearance Qpening, and the flanges 3llGr,I are irnportant, as will 'hereinafter be described, in permitting ready assembly of the parts as well'as in attaining a guiding action between the parts after such assembly. Y

The lowerV channel 32 is formed sci as toA face upwardly and this channel has, in the left hand or forward portion thereof, artrueYchannel-form, while atthe righi hand end portion. the, web 0r crcssmember of the channel is cut away to alter@ clearance to Vfacilitate leading of Staples SA, into thestaple holding and feeding mechanisrn, as will hereinafter b-e described. in this portion it will alsobe noted that the vertical width of the side walls 32S has been reduced so that the handle'portionof the channel 34 may be grasped without contact with the side walls Thus, the lower channel 32 in the forward or left hand portion thereof, has` a bottom wall 321B. and upstanding sidewalls 32S, andv these side walls are so spaced that they have what may be termed a loosesliding nt against and between the twol guide flanges 34'@ of the upper channel 34. 'The bottom channel wall 32B terminates at its rear end at 32T substantially midway between the ends of the member 32, and from the edge 32T and substantially to the forward or left hand end of the channel 32, a staple supporting and guiding means isprovid-ed within the channel and on top. of the bottom wall 32B. This guiding means may be attained in a simple manner through the mounting of a channel member 38within the -channel 32, and with the crass wall or web of the channel 33 secured as by means of screws 39 disposed within the channel 38- and extended through the bottom wall or web thereofl into the bottom wall 32B of the channel 32. The side walls of the channel 33 are spaced from the side walls 32S of the channel 32 sov thatthe legs of the staples S may ride between the channel 3B and the walls 32S, and when the staples S are in this position, the cross members of the staples extend across the open top. of the Channel 38 'and ride upon the, upper dees'f these Side walls. as shown. in Fie. 9 of the drawings. When thestaples Sv, are in this position, they are held downwardly with respect to the channel 38 by guide 'platesji'that are secured" as by welding to the inner faces of the side walls 32S.

The staples S that are thusV supported and guided on the Vchannel 38.' are normally urged in a forward or left hand direction, Fig. 2, by a staple-advancing followerV mechanism that includes a channel shaped follower ifi that rides on the channel 38 and'wifhn the space traversed by the staples S. The follower 4l rhas the web pcrticn thereof arranged to ride on the upper eliges o'the' side walls of the channel 3S, and flanges'llli on the follower il ride in the spaces betweenjthe sideI Walls 32S andtheA channel 38. Qn' thel web of the" follower lll a bracket l2 is secured, and an elongated actuating rod d3 is jslidably extended'through the bracket 4,2 longitildinally olf Vthe channel '32. This rod 43 extends rearwardlyor" to` thev right throughk an upwardly faced spacing' 'channel 45 that is disposed between and secured asby'welding to the side walls 32S, 'and this spacingpchannel 45 extends to the right hand or' rear end of the side walls 32S and hasy an end wall 45E) formed thereon. An expensive 'Coil spring 4tV surrounds the rod i3 between,thejendwalldSE andthe bracket 42 so that thisk spring serves norr'nally to urge. the follower 4I', 1.1.1` a left hand. 0r staple', advancing direction- Atjitsfforwai'd or left hand end the; rod 43 has a head 43H formedthereon so that by withdrawin g the rod. 43 in a rearward o r right hand direction the follower 4l may be withdrawn from itsl position within the staple, guideway. This 'operatien is facilitated tljlrough the provision cfU a knu'rled" head-4e that is screw-.threaded onto the-rearor right hand'- end= ofv the rod d3. To enable this to be done, a clearance opening 34C is provided in the rear wal-l 34B.- Qffthe upper channel. The head 48 has a flange GSF formed thereon se` as to. bedispos'ed. within then channel 3 4, and a; spring latch e9; secured tothe web of the channel 4.15. is. arranged to. engage this flange to latch the rod in itsy .forward orlet hand posi-L tion aesbewn in -Eie-za.

. When the *nelis to. be loaded with staples. the, handle 4S.. 0f.- the rod. 4.3.15 grasped and the iollower. 4l is Withdrawn; and; when the; follower has: been Completelymeved; out 0I: the: staple guiding Channel 0r;- Pasase the rod 43. is; tilted SQ- as. t0. more the iellewer 4i upwardly into; a clearance space 50 formed between the. plates 40 and the channel 45, such clearance space being shown in Fig. 2, and the location of the follower 4l in such clearance space being illustrated in Fig. 14 of the drawings. With respect to this positioning of the follower 4I, it should be 0bserved that the lower face of the web of the channel is disposed substantially in the plane of the lower edges of the guide plates 40, and the lower edges of the flanges MF of the follower are disposed only a slight distance above this plane when the follower has been moved into the clearance space 50. Thus, when the tool is turned over so that the open bottom edge thereof is exposed, the staples, which of course are furnished in joined groups or units in conventional fashion, may be readily loaded into the tool merely by placing them in an inverted position on top of the web of the spacing -channel 45. These staples may then be moved forwardly or to the left into the staple guide passage, after which the follower may beV moved out of the clearance space and into alignment with the staple guiding passage, and upon release of the rod 43 the spring 46 will become effective to cause the follower 4l to urge the staples S in a forward direction through the guide passage and toward the staple driving ram mechanism R. The spacer channel member 45 is rigidly secured to and is located between the rearward extensions of the lower channel member 32 and the web portion of the spacer member 45 is located above the lower edges. of the rearward extensions of the lower member 32, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and '16 of the drawings, and when the tool is inverted for loading purposes the web of the spacer member 45 is adapted to support a group of staples in position for feeding onto the staple supporting member 38 which is mounted upon the bottom of the lower channel member 32 at the front portion thereof.

The desired pivotal connection between the channels 32 and 34 and at the right hand or rear end thereof is afforded by means that are best shown in Figs. l, 17 and 19. Thus, it will be evident that the side walls 34S are recessed at to receive the heads of the mounting pivot studs or screws 35 which have shouldered portions extending through pivot openings provided at the bottoms of the recesses 55, and the threaded portions of the pivot screws or studs 35 are threaded into the side walls 32S and theside flanges of the spacing channel 45. It will be observed that at the portions surrounding the pivots 35, the side walls 32S are somewhat thickened as at 32T, Figs. 4 and 19, andtherefore when the device is to be assembled, this thickened portion isA inserted into the clearance space forwardly of the ends 34C of the flanges 34G, and the lower channel 32 is then moved longitudinally into the channel 34 until the thickened portions 32T are disposed in the proper position for insertion of the pivot screws 35.

The present invention affords an extremely simple way in which to afford accurate coopera* tion of the elements of the ram mechanism R, and in accomplishing this,` the ram.mechansm R is provided with a relatively simple, but accurately formed, casting or machined element in the form of a vertical bar 50 which acts as a guiding element. The bar is disposed between the forward edges of the side walls 32S, and this bar 60 is secured in position by a plurality of rivets 62 that extend transversely through the side walls 32S and the bar 60. These rivets 52 also serve to secure a pair of angle members 64 on opposite outer sides of the two side Walls 32S, and these guide angles have flanges 64F that ride with a fil relatively`loose sliding action against the inner faces of the side walls 34S to serve as a lateral guiding means for the front portion of the channel 34 withrespect to the front portion of the channel 32. In itsrear face, the vertical guide bar 60 has a semi-circular guide groove 60G formed therein, and a staple-driving plunger P is arranged to ride vertically along this semi-circular guideway 60G. The plunger P has the lower portion thereof cut away as at 68, and a at driving plate 'I0 is secured as by welding against this cut away portion of the plunger P so that this driving plate 10 will ride against the rearwardly fiat faces EUR of the block or bar 60 on the opposite side of the guide groove 60G. The driving plate l0 is thus disposed in a vertical guideway deflned'at the front by the surfaces GDR, at the rear by the forward ends of the plates 40 and the forward end surfaces of the channel 38, and at its side edges by the side walls 32S, as will be evident in Figs. l1 and 12. The plunger P has a head 'i2 formed at its upper end, and below this head an expansive coil spring 14 surrounds the cylindrical portion of the plunger P. The lower end of this spring 'i4 acts on the upper end of the l guide bar 50 and on a retaining and guiding web 'I8 that is formed by extensions from the two guiding plates 40. The web 18 cooperates with the guide channel 50G to afford a full circular bearing for the cylindrical upper portion of the plunger P.

It will be observed (Fig. 6) that an inwardly struck lug 241| is afforded in the front wall 34F of the upper channel 34, and a hook shaped member 50H on the bar 60 engages the lug 34L to limit the upward movement of the forward end of the channel 34 that is caused by the spring 14. In the assembly of the tool, the channel 32 is moved rearwardly in the channel 34 in an amount sufiicient to let the hook 50H move upwardly past the lug SAL, and is then returned to the left or frontwardly to align the pivot elements of the structures. When the plunger P is in the upper or fully retracted position that is determined by the engagement of the lug 34L with the hook 50H, the lower end of the driving plate lil is disposed just above the plane of the upper surfaces of the staples in the staple guiding channel, as will be evident in Figs. 2 and 6. Thus, the staple advancing means will urge the leading staple S into a position immediately beneath the staple driving plate l0, and in this position the staple will be disposed over the lower discharge opening that is aiforded between the forward end edge of the bottom wall 32B and the rear face 59B of the guide bar 60. The lower portion of the plunger P is preferably cut away as at 10C, so that when the plunger is fully projected, only the rectangular lower end of the plate 1B will be exposed.

Itwill be observe that the rounded upper surface of the head l2 of the plunger P is engaged with a relatively thick and hardened bearing plate that is fixed as by welding on the inner surface of the top of the extension 34E of the upper channel, and in the use of the present tool, the action of the elements is such that when the lower surface of the forward end of the channel 32 is brought into contact with the work W at the end of a hammer-like stroke, the plunger P will be driven downwardly so as to impart the desired driving force to the leading staple S as will be evident from a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. In this connection it will be observed that the forward lower corner of the andar? bottom wall 32B. and of the guiding bar 60', as well as the side walls 32S and the anglesv 64, are somewhat beveled and rounded as 21.11.82;` Fig.. 1, thereby to afford greater latitude in the. angle at, which the tool may be. brought into cooper.'- ation with the ywork. Similarly, the. lower forward portions of the walls 34E' andk 34S. are out away as at 82A, for the same reasons.

It has beenfound in practice that the. presient tool operates without any objectionable tendency to marl: or scarl workV at; the point. where the tool strikes the work, and while the work must, of course, absorb some of the; inertiav of the parts, it is the applicants present. theory that the avoidance of denting or marking ofthe work is due in a large measure to the novel cooperaation of' the elements of the ram mechanism whereby all binding is avoided.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that. the present. invention greatly simplifies the manufacture of hammer type stapling devices, andthat it enables these stapling devices to be constructed in such a way as to involve but very few parts that may be manufactured and assembled in a simple and economical manner. It will. also be evident that the present invention materially simplifies the loading of staples into'the stapling tool, and that the parts of the staple holding and loading mechanism are of a simple character.

It will also be apparent that the present invention enables hammer type stapling devices; to be used in many situations where prior devices of this type could not be used, since the present device avoids an objectionable. marking or denting of the work surface adjacent to the point wherethe staple is driven.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish. to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such Ychanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the fol.- lowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a stapling tool, a channel member having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls provided with rearward extensions of substantial" length extending beyond. the bottom wall, stapleguiding means mounted on said bottom wall, and upwardly facing spacer channel member rigidly secured between said rearward extensions in parallel relation to the staple guiding means and in position to locate a group. of staples in alignment with said staple guidingy means inthecourse of a loading operation, an. end abutment wallI in fixed relation to said rearward extensions; and located at the rear end of said spacer channel member, a rod extended slidably through-saidend abutment wall and through saidspacer channel member and over said staple guiding means, a follower slidably mounted onf said rod, a spring means on said rod between said. abutment wall and said'follower forurging the follower in a. for.i ward. direction, said rod bei-ng movable rearwardly for-withdrawing said follower from said staple guiding means, saidspacer channel member being spaced from the staple guiding means to. adordclearance space' in which said follower may be moved upon such withdrawal.

2. Ina stapling tool, .a channel member having a bottom wall and upstandingl sidewallsprovided with rearward extensions of substantial length extending beyond the bottom wall, staple guiding mea-ns mounted on said bottom wall, an upwardly facing spacer channel member rigidlyy secured between said rearward extensions in parallel relation to the staple guiding means and in position to: locate a group of staples in alignment with saidV staple guiding means in thecourse of a loading operation, an end abutment wall in fixed relationto: said rearward extensions: and located at the rear end of said spacer channel member, a rod extended slidablyV through said end abutm-entfwalfl' and through said spacer channel member and over said staplefguiding means, a follower slidably mounted on` said rod, al spring means on said rod between said abutment wall .and said follower for urging the follower in a forward direction, said rod being movable rearwardly for Awithdrawing said follower from said staple guiding means, said spacer channel member being spaced from the staple guiding means to afford clearance spacev in which said follower may be moved upon such withdrawal, and means for deg tachably locking the rod in its forward position.

In a-stapling tool, a channel member having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls provided with rearward extensions of substantial length extendingl beyond the bottomwall., staple guiding means mounted onrsaid. bottom wall, an upwardly facing spacer. channel member rigidly securedv between said rearward extensions im parallel relation tothe staple guiding means and in position to locate a group of staples in aligne mentwith said staple guiding means in the course of a loading operation, an end abutment wall in fixed. relation to said rearward extensions. and located at the rear end of said spacer. channel member, `a rod extended. sldablythrough said end abutment Wall and through said spacer channel member and over said staple guiding means, a follower slidably mounted. onsaidl roda spring means on said rod between said abutment wall and said follower for urging. the follower in a forward direction, exteriorly arranged head on said rody for withdrawing said follower from saidstaple guiding. means, .saidv spacer channel member being spaced from said staple guiding means to afford clearance space. into which said follower may be moved upon such withdrawal, a latch secured to said spacer. member and projecting beyond said abutment wall, and' means carriedby the. rodfor. engaging. the latch for lockingr the rod in its. forward. position.

WALTER E. WEMBER.

No references cited. 

